The seasons first widespread severe weather episode took place during the day on the 30th.  A strong upper level trough of low pressure moved through the central U.S.  This system intensified as it moved through the area, eventually becoming a closed low at 500 mb centered over southern Minnesota by the evening.  Strong surface low pressure developed and lifted northeast across the area.  Moisture was drawn north ahead of the system with surface dew points reaching the mid 50s just ahead of the cold front.  Temperatures rose into the mid 60s to low 70s ahead of the cold front.  This, combined with cooling aloft, resulted in destabilization of the atmosphere  Lifted indices reached the -5 to -7 C. range with CAPE values in the 1000 to 1500 J/kg range.  Freezing levels were low,  given the time of the year.  Freezing levels were in the 8000 to 9500 foot range during the event.  The low level jet had increased to 50 to 60 kts ahead of the cold front.  Thunderstorms erupted during the previous night and moved into northwest Iowa before sunrise.  They produced nickel size hail in the Estherville area.  The main area of thunderstorms developed by the mid to late morning hours and moved east across the state.  Most of the storms produced gusty winds and hail of up to one inch in diameter.  High winds from one of the storms blew over two semi-tractortrailer trucks at the junction of U.S. Highway 20 and 14 in Grundy County.   A 71 MPH wind gust was recorded by KWWL-TV in Waterloo with the storm.  A short time later, winds estimated at 65 MPH were reported in Bremer County.   Several reports of tornadoes were received.  The tornadoes were all very small and move closely related to land spouts.  All touched down in open areas and caused little damage.  The first tornado touched down in Webster County southeast of Fort Dodge.  A short time later, another tornado touched down east of Duncombe.  The storms moved into Hamilton County and produced a brief tornado touchdown northeast of Webster City.  Several reports of tornadoes were received from Cerro Gordo County east of Mason City.  It appeared a cluster of small tornadoes occurred with several brief touchdowns reported during a brief time.  Two of the tornadoes touched down about 5 miles southeast of Mason City in open country.  One was on the ground for about a half mile, the other for a little over a mile.  One of the stronger tornadoes of the day touched down in Wright County northwest of Dows.  The tornado flattened a garage there and ripped the roof off of a barn at a farm about a mile northwest of Dows.

Thunderstorm Wind in JASPER, IOWA
From 30-MAR-05 14:35:00 to 30-MAR-05 14:35:00 (CST)
Location: LYNNVILLE
Magnitude: 57 EG
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Tornado in WEBSTER, IOWA
From 30-MAR-05 12:25:00 to 30-MAR-05 12:25:00 (CST)
Location: FT DODGE
Tornado F-scale: F0
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Brief touchdown in open area.

Hail in WEBSTER, IOWA
From 30-MAR-05 12:30:00 to 30-MAR-05 12:30:00 (CST)
Location: COALVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Tornado in WEBSTER, IOWA
From 30-MAR-05 12:40:00 to 30-MAR-05 12:40:00 (CST)
Location: DUNCOMBE
Tornado F-scale: F0
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Brief touchdown in open fields.

Tornado in HAMILTON, IOWA
From 30-MAR-05 12:51:00 to 30-MAR-05 12:51:00 (CST)
Location: WEBSTER CITY
Tornado F-scale: F0
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Brief toucheown in open fields.  Lifted dirt and dust as it rotated northwest.

Tornado in CERRO GORDO, IOWA
From 30-MAR-05 13:39:00 to 30-MAR-05 13:46:00 (CST)
Location: MASON CITY
Tornado F-scale: F0
Reported by: STORM CHASER

Tornado touched down near U.S. Highway 18 and tracked north-northeast across open county.  No damage occurred as it only lifted dirt into the air.

Hail in TAYLOR, IOWA
From 30-MAR-05 09:35:00 to 30-MAR-05 09:35:00 (CST)
Location: BLOCKTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in RINGGOLD, IOWA
From 30-MAR-05 09:57:00 to 30-MAR-05 09:57:00 (CST)
Location: REDDING
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in DALLAS, IOWA
From 30-MAR-05 13:05:00 to 30-MAR-05 13:05:00 (CST)
Location: ADEL
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Thunderstorm Wind in BLACK HAWK, IOWA
From 30-MAR-05 13:26:00 to 30-MAR-05 13:26:00 (CST)
Location: WATERLOO
Magnitude: 62 MG
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Thunderstorm Wind in BREMER, IOWA
From 30-MAR-05 13:50:00 to 30-MAR-05 13:50:00 (CST)
Location: WAVERLY
Magnitude: 57 EG
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Tornado in WRIGHT, IOWA
From 30-MAR-05 13:15:00 to 30-MAR-05 13:16:00 (CST)
Location: DOWS
Tornado F-scale: F1
Property damage: 30K
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

Tornado destroyed a garage and ripped the roof off of a barn northwest of Dows.

Hail in EMMET, IOWA
From 30-MAR-05 04:28:00 to 30-MAR-05 04:28:00 (CST)
Location: ESTHERVILLE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 2K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in RINGGOLD, IOWA
From 30-MAR-05 10:38:00 to 30-MAR-05 10:38:00 (CST)
Location: MT AYR MUNI ARPT
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in POLK, IOWA
From 30-MAR-05 11:18:00 to 30-MAR-05 11:18:00 (CST)
Location: DES MOINES
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in POLK, IOWA
From 30-MAR-05 11:27:00 to 30-MAR-05 11:27:00 (CST)
Location: DES MOINES
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 2K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Thunderstorm Wind in GRUNDY, IOWA
From 30-MAR-05 13:18:00 to 30-MAR-05 13:18:00 (CST)
Location: GRUNDY CENTER
Magnitude: 52 EG
Property damage: 50K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Tornado in CERRO GORDO, IOWA
From 30-MAR-05 13:42:00 to 30-MAR-05 13:42:00 (CST)
Location: MASON CITY
Tornado F-scale: F0
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Tornado touched down in open area east of Mason City.  Reported by three spotters.

Tornado in CERRO GORDO, IOWA
From 30-MAR-05 13:42:00 to 30-MAR-05 13:44:00 (CST)
Location: MASON CITY
Tornado F-scale: F0
Reported by: STORM CHASER

Brief tornado touchdown in open area southeast of Mason City.  Reports indicate there were two quick and brief touchdowns in that area.  Track was somewhat intermittent.

Hail in POWESHIEK, IOWA
From 30-MAR-05 13:59:00 to 30-MAR-05 13:59:00 (CST)
Location: BROOKLYN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in JASPER, IOWA
From 30-MAR-05 14:55:00 to 30-MAR-05 14:55:00 (CST)
Location: NEWBURG
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in KOSSUTH, IOWA
From 30-MAR-05 03:50:00 to 30-MAR-05 03:50:00 (CST)
Location: LEDYARD
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC